RIYADH: Aimed at providing Saudi youths with basic and advanced training to join the fast-growing Saudi retail sector, Apparel Group on Wednesday launched a major training center, which was approved and certified by the state-owned Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC).
Speaking to Arab News after formally opening the training center here, Nilesh Ved, chairman of Apparel Group, pledged to invest SR100 million ($26,665,245) to open new Apparel stores across the Kingdom this year. While defying the recessionary trends in the Gulf, he said: “Last year we opened 338 stores, and this year we will open close to 200 stores. We want smart growth, not only for the sake of growth.”
Ved disclosed that Saudi Arabia, which represents 10 percent of the company’s global revenue, is an emerging market, “thanks to the visionary leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense,” said the Apparel group chairman, while optimistically explaining his expansion plans within the framework of Vision 2030.
Referring to the training facility in Riyadh, Ved said: “We already have one training center in Dubai and we are planning to open another one in Oman… It is not part of our corporate social responsibility, rather education and training is part of our DNA.
“The center will contribute in bridging the skill gap in the retail sector by providing free-of-cost training to Saudi youths by experienced professionals and creating opportunities for them,” he added.
The target group will be Saudi boys and girls, who will get certificates of accomplishment after finishing their training courses. Ved said that “we are born retailers… through our training center we will make sure that the Saudi youth are truly ‘ready’ to be successful in retail industry.” The certification programs at the training center in Riyadh include customer service, retail management, training of trainers and more.
“The Apparel Training Center will provide graduates with opportunities to work across many of the international brands operated by Apparel Group in Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries,” explained Ved. “Through our partnership with brands like Tim Hortons, Tommy Hilfiger, Inglot, Skechers and many more, we are in a position to expose the Saudi youth to best practices from across the world,” said the Apparel chief.
He further said that the training will deliver TVTC-approved courses and the center will also organize guest lectures by leading retail professionals from across the region to ensure practical and theoretical knowledge for the students. The chairman pointed out that “Apparel group will soon have Apparel Training Center branches across the Kingdom to ensure Saudi youth everywhere can have access to the best-quality retail education.”
Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate catering to millions of shoppers through its more than 1,800 stores and 75 brands.
Apparel Group opens TVTC-certified training center in Riyadh
Apparel Group opens TVTC-certified training center in Riyadh
Petromin Nissan celebrates decade of partnership excellence in Kingdom
Petromin Nissan recently hosted an event to celebrate 10 years of partnership with Nissan, marking a decade since Petromin was appointed as the official Nissan dealer in Saudi Arabia. The milestone reflects a partnership shaped by trust, consistent performance, and a shared long-term vision that has played a meaningful role in the development of the automotive sector in the Kingdom.
The event highlighted Petromin Nissan’s continued confidence in the Saudi market, demonstrated by the attendance of senior leadership from Nissan Global, the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom was reaffirmed as one of Nissan’s most important growth markets in the region, in line with the company’s global focus on innovation, sustainability, and intelligent mobility.
The celebration was attended by a number of senior industry and business leaders, including Sheikh Amr Al-Dabbagh, chairman and CEO of Al-Dabbagh Group, reflecting the significance of the partnership and its broader impact on the Kingdom’s automotive and business landscape.
As part of its performance over the past year, Petromin Nissan had been awarded two Awards of Excellence from Nissan Global, recognizing operational strength and overall business performance, and reinforcing its standing as one of Nissan’s leading partners worldwide.
Paddy Magee, managing director of Petromin Nissan, said: “Over the past 10 years, Petromin’s priority has been to build a business that puts the customer first while fully reflecting Nissan’s global standards. Through expanding our network, strengthening our service capabilities, and investing in our people, we have focused on creating sustainable value for the Saudi market.”
Adib Takieddine, managing director of Nissan Saudi Arabia, said: “Saudi Arabia continues to be a strategic market for Nissan. Our partnership with Petromin has been instrumental in strengthening our presence in the Kingdom, supporting growth, enhancing customer satisfaction, and advancing our long-term vision for mobility in alignment with Vision 2030.”
Over the decade, Petromin Nissan significantly expanded its footprint across the Kingdom, now operating 18 showrooms and 16 service centers in 11 cities, improving accessibility and delivering a more seamless customer experience nationwide.
Reflecting on the broader partnership, Terence Byrne, CEO of National Motor Company, said: “Reaching this milestone is a clear reflection of a partnership built on shared values and long-term commitment. Petromin Nissan has established a strong platform in Saudi Arabia and continues to deliver real impact for customers and the wider automotive ecosystem.”
Looking ahead, Petromin Nissan reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the Saudi market, with continued focus on innovation, sustainability, digital transformation, and customer-centric mobility as the partnership moves into its next phase.
